3 Ways to Combat Sleep Apnea
- Posted on: Dec 30 2022
In general, obstructive sleep apnea refers to relaxing the throat muscles or a partially blocked airway that reduces the amount of air reaching the lungs while you sleep. This decreases the levels of oxygen in the brain and body. Usually, you will adjust or wake up if the oxygen levels get too low. However, long periods of even slightly reduce oxygen levels can cause other health issues.
Whether caused by the muscles relaxing too much or an enlarged area of the neck that constricts the airway, it is important to address the cause of sleep apnea as soon as possible.
Commonly, excess weight can be a leading cause of obstruction and restriction. In these cases, a reduction in body weight can alleviate sleep apnea symptoms. However, if severe enough or left untreated for an extended period, this may not be enough to solve sleep apnea issues completely.
A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device can significantly relieve more moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea. Using a mask worn throughout the night, CPAP delivers gentle yet continuous pressure to your airway to keep it open and allow adequate air to reach your lungs with each breath while you sleep.
For more severe cases where weight loss or CPAP therapies are not successful, several surgical options are safe and proven very effective at alleviating sleep apnea symptoms and helping to prevent other health conditions/concerns.
Regardless of the severity of your sleep apnea, it is important to ensure you get enough air while you sleep. Call the team at the ENT and Allergy Centers of Texas in the North Plano area at 972-984-1050 or visit www.enttx.com to schedule a consultation.
Posted in: Obstructive Sleep Apnea
